Sustaining and propelling mechanism.



No. 882,899 ,PATENTED MAR. 24,1908.

- 1). B. LITTLEFIELD. SUSTAINING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2'1, 1907.

' "iefd I VEE] 11:1 qwz'cZBlzZtZ No. 882,899. PATENTED, MAR. 24, 1908.

D. B. LITTLEFIELD. SUSTAINING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1907- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTE D MAR. 24, 1908.

D. B. LITTLBFIELD.

SUSTAINING AND PROPELLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1907.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES 1 DANIEL Bf LITTLEFIELD PATENT OFFICE.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. l

Specification otlLetters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed February 27, 1907. Serial No. 359,688.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL B. LITTLE- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sustaining and Pro elling Mechanism; and I do hereby declare t at the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sustaining and propelling mechanism and has for its object. more particularly a mechanism adapted to elevate sustain and propel airships or other fluid sustained devices.

It is an object of the invention to provide a construction in which the ropelling mechanism acts also to sustain tlie weight and in which the propellers act both vertically and obliquely.

It is also an object of the invention to afford reciprocating propellers whereby the normal effect of the propellers is angmented.

It is also an object of .the invention to pr0- vide a construction affording a plurality of prolpellers some of which act vertically wh e the others act obliquel and to afford a construction in which a p urality of propellers are used all of which rotate, reciprocate and oscillate rhythmically.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in combination with suitable sustaining and propelling mechanism aeroplafies which act to steady and sustain the t is finally an object of the invention. to afford an exceedingl light, strong and compact mechanism of t c class described by the use of which sustained and dirigible flight is possible.

The invention consists in the matter hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the a pended claims.

In the drawings: igure 1 is a side elevati'on partly broken of a device embodyin my invention.- Fig. 2 is a top plan view 0 the same. Fig. 3 1s a fragmentary detailof the adjusting mechanism for varyin the angle of operation of the propellers. Fig. 4 is an enlarged inner face view of the planetary gear and pinion embodied in my invention.

ig. 5 is a section thereoftaken on line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line. 66 of Fig. 4. Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the su port for the rudder and the tiller lines therefbr As shown in the drawings:-Referring first to Fig. 1., a rectangular frame is rovided com risingstrong but light stee or other suita le tubes A,disposed at the corners thereof and are connected at the top by means of suitable fittings with horizontal tubes (1, and near their lower ends with tubes a. Any suitable fittings may be employed for this purpose, the object being to attain maximum-rigidity and strength with minimum weight and of course braces may he provided where required. Said tubular posts A afford legs u on which the machine may rest'when on t e ground. The upper frame members a at each side of the frame are extended beyond the vertical posts A, affording extensions a at the outer end of which are suitable boxes which afford bearings for lateral horizontal shafts B each provided with a collar '6 at each end thereof which bears against the inner side of said extension or arm (1 Said shafts at each end extend be end the arm-a and rigidly keyed thereon IS the radially extended arm 0 of a beveled gear C. Journaled at the middle of said bevel gear C is a shaft 0 which, as shown, at its end closely ad'acent the face of said gear, is provided Wit a sleeve 0 in which is ournaled the propeller shaft D.

On the upper end of each propeller shaft is a propeller wheel having any desired number of propeller blades and indicated as a whole by D, D D and D, on the respective shafts, which are four in number, one being .at each corner of the machine. Rigidly secured on each shaft D to mesh with the bevel gear C, is a beveled-pinion d and likewise rigidly secured on the shaft D above and below the bearing sleeve are collars d and d which act at all times to hold said pinion in mesh with said gear. The lower ends of said shafts D, extend through suitable sleeves 6 provided at o posite ends of longitudinally adjustable ad usting rodsE, also tubular for lightness and which are slidable in brackets e. rigidly secured on the lower longitudinal frame members a. Said fadjusting rods E, 'are provided each with a rack e at its middle part adapted to be engaged by a pinion e rigidly engaged on a suitable shaft e, journaled transversely the machine on said lower frame members and as shown a hand wheel a is provided on said shaft whereby the same may be rotated to shift said adjusting bars forwardly or rearwardl thus varyin the angle of operation of pu l of the prope lers on the shafts D, as shown in Fig. 1. The operators platform is conveniently supported on said lower frame members a and may be constructed in any suitable manner to enable the operator to sit, stand or lie conveniently to the mechan- 1 ismof the machine.

1 on said platform as shown is an explosive engine or other suitable motor F, which drives a sprocket wheel f, secured on its crank shaft, about which and suitable sprocket wheels, 6 secured on the shafts B is trained a sprocket chain f whereby said engine or motor drives all said shafts and propellers continuously.

At the rear of the machine and hinged to a post 9 is the rudder G, which may be of any suitable size or shape and may be operated in any suitable manner. As shown, however, tiller lines 9', 9 lead from the outer end of the rudder inwardly to the operating station in convenient access to the operator and can be operated either by a suitable wheel or in any suitable or convenient manner-Q The operation is as followsz-The frame which is exceedingly light and rigid as before described is su orted in an upri ht position upon an suitable surface or mayie mounted on whee s if desired and the motor is started. The action of the motor drives the propellers each in the ap ropriate direction to afford the maximum lifting effect and as said shafts B rotate, the gears C swing about the same in a circle, so that each rotation of the-shafts B acts to raise the shaft D actuated thereby vertically, swing the upper or propelling end of the same forwardly and as the gear G descends, retracts the shaft pulling the ropeller downwardl and obliquely toward t erear. Said gears ares o arranged upon their respective shafts that the diagonally opposite propellers act toggther in pairs, that is to say, the pro ellers and D are rising, while the propellers D and D having swung forward are descending as shown 1n Fig. 1. In this manner two of said propellers are at all times acting at their maximum power both to support and to draw the device ahead, while the remainin two are rising but are nevertheless supporting the device.v with near their mam'mum effect inas much as the pitch and lead of the propellers and therate of'rotation thereof are such as to avoid back pressure due to the raising of the propellers. The angle of operation of the propellers can of course be varied b means, of the hand wheel e", which simu taneously shifts the adjusting rods E rearwardly or forwardly. When adjusted for slight angles of inclination upon the shafts the-effect produced will be mainly a lifting 5 efiect and 1f shifted rearwardly as shown in Positioned centrally- Fig. 1, a-decided pulling effect is produced by said propellers during half of the rotation or ggration of the gear C, the remainin half of t e eriod of rotation said prope ers are main y acting as supports.

From the construction described it is obvious that the forward motion of the device is caused by the forward pull of the propellers which tend to cause the center of gravity to swing forwardly successively, as the shafts or propellers gyrate. The rudder acts to steady the forward movement and prevent oscillation in the car as well, as to guide the same and for the purpose of further steadying the car but principally to aid the same in sustaining continuous flight, aeroplanes H consistin of substantially parallel planes of considera le length are provided transversely and centrally of the machine. These are secured at their front edges on a vertical bar or rod h, secured on the bottom and top of the frame on the frame members a and a respectively. At the rear side said aeroplanes are connected by means of a rod h, which may be hinged thereto and which afford means for varying the angle at which said aeroplanes impinge on the air while the car is in flight. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for adjusting the aeroplanes.

Obviously .while I have described my invention as embracing upper pro ellers only,- other propellers may be provide which may serve the purpose only of propelling while I the remaining propellers ift the device. 0 These may or may not oscillate 0r gyrate as desired, and if desired of course many variations in details may be effected without departing from the principles of this invention.

therefore do not purpose limiting this appli- 105 cation for atent otherwise than as necessitated by he prior art.

I claim as my invention 1. A ropeller adapted to rotate, recipror. 'cate an oscillate simultaneously, and a mo- 110 tor for actuating the propellers.

2. A ropeller adapted to rotate, reciprocate an oscillate simultaneously, and means varying the angle of oscillation and reciprocation. 11

3. A propeller and mechanism actingl to rotate, gyrate and reciprocate the props er 4. In a device of the class described a propeller and mechanism acting to continuously rotate and to reciprocate and gyrate the 120 same, the gyrations andreciprocations being synchronous.

5.- The combination with a suitable motof, of pro ellers driven therehy, means simultaneous 1y reciprocating an prope er during rotation thereof and means varying the angle at which the same recipro- .cates.

- 6. In a device of the class described the combination with a suitable motor, of a rigid 130 oscillating said season shaft driven thereby, a lanetary gear operated thereby-and a prope ler rotated, reciprocated and gyrated thereby.

' 7. In a device of the class described the combination with a suitable frame, of a rigid shaft driven thereby, a lanetary gear operated thereby, a pro el er rotated, reciprocated and gyrated t ereby, and means for vary' g the direction of gyration and reciprocation; Y I

8. In a device of the class described the combination with a suitable frame, of rotary and reciprocating propellers thereon arranged in pairs, means actuating the same whereby one pair rises while the other descends, and means varying the angle of operation of the propellers.

9. The combination with a suitable frame, of propellers arranged one at each corner thereof, a planetary gear acting to rotate and to reciprocate and oscillate said propellers in diagonally opposite pairs, one set acting to rise as the other descends, mechanism for varying the angle of operation of the propellers and aeroplanes secured on said frame.

10. In a device of the class described the combination with a suitable frame, of a motor thereon, a shaft journ'aled on the frame, a beveled gear rigidly engaged on said shaft, eccentric thereto, a shaft extendingthrough the center of said gear, a sleeve thereon adjacent the face of the gear, a pro- ,peller shaft journaled in said sleeve, a beveled pinion rigidly secured on said shaft, a propeller on the shaft and adjustablemeans engaged on said frame and acting to shift the end of said shaft laterally to vary the angle of operation of the propeller. v

1].. Ina machine of the class described a frame, a propeller above each quarter thereof, means rotatingthe propellers and mechanisms reciprocating and gyrating the same in diagonally opposite pairs.

12. In a machine of the class described a frame, a propeller above each quarter there-- of, a motor rotatingthe propellers and mechanism driving eachpropeller to gyrate and rotate the same in pairs, one pair moving downwardly and obliquely rearwardlywhile the other moves upwardly and means vary ing the angle of such movement. r

' 13. In-a machine of the class described a frame, a propeller above each quarter thereof, a motor rotating the propellers and mechtate the same in pairs, one pair moving down-" acting wardly and obliquely rearwardly while the other moves upwardly and means varying the angle of suchmovement, aeroplanes arranged on said frame, and a rudder to direct the flight.

15. In a device of the class described the combination with a frame, a motor and horizontal shafts on said frame driven thereby, of beveled gears, an arm engaged on each extending beyond the periphery thereof and rigidly engaged on the ends of said shafts whereby said gear as a whole swings about the shaft during each rotation, 'a propeller shaft journaled at the center of each gear and. parallel with the face thereof, beveled pinions thereon meshing with said beveled gear, a propeller on the outer end of each propeller shaft, adjusting mechanism. at the inner. end of each propeller shaft adapted to swing the same longitudinally of the frame.

16. In a device of the class described the combination with a frame ,a motor and horizontal shafts on said frame driven thereby, of

beveled gears, an arm engaged on each extending beyond the periphery thereof and rigidly engaged on the ends of said shafts whereby said gear as a whole swings about the shaft during each rotation, a propeller shaft journaled at the center of each gear and parallel with the face thereof, beveled pinions thereon meshing with said beveled gear, a propeller on the outer end of each propeller shaft, adjusting mechanism at the inner end of each propeller shaft adapted toswing the same longitudinally of the frame, said beveled gears being soarranged on their shafts that some of said propellersare rising while the remaining are moving rearwardly and. downwardly.

17. In a flying machine rotating propellers gyrating and reciprocating synchronously the gyrations and reciprocations acting to :pull the same ahead, and aeroplanes to support the device during flight.

18. The combination in a filing machine of four ropellers one above eac quarter and by rotation to lift the car, means rotatin the same, part of which move downwardIy and obliquely and part of whichsimultaneously move upward and obliquely and means varying the angle of action of said propellers to pull the same forwardly, and aeroplanes secured on said machine. 7

19. The combination with a body to be driven, of a propeller secured thereto and means simultaneously oscillating, rotating,- reciprocating' and gyrating the same rhythmically. 3

#20. A sustaining and propulsion pro eller, means gyrating, reciprocating and osci ating the same synchronouslyand rhythmically. and means for varying the angle of operation. s

21. 'In a device of the class described the, combination with a frame of paralleldriva'ii shafts journaled thereon, propeller shafts, means rigidly and eccentrically secured on each end of the driven shafts and pivotally engaging one of the propeller shafts adapted to rotate and oscillate the shaft and a propeller on each shaft.

22. In a device of the class described the combination with "a frame of driven shafts secured thereto, propeller shafts, a universal connection at one end of each propeller shaft, a pivotal connection at the opposite ends of the pro eller shafts, a propeller on each propeller s aft, means operated by the drlven shafts to impart a sustaining stroke to part of said propellers and means simultaneously pu se to said ropeller shaft and a propeller operated by t e pro eller shaft.

24.- In a device the class described the combination with a frame, of propellers secured thereto, and eccentric. means impartin a-susta'ining impulse to part of said prope lers and simultaneously imparting a propulsion impulse to other of sa1d propellers.

25. In a device of the class described the combination with a frame of ropellers secured thereto and means sim taneously reciprocating and rotatin each propeller imparting pro ulsion stro es to part thereof and sustaining strokes to the remainder of the propellers.

26. In a dirigible air navi ating device the combination with a frame 0 a motor secured thereto, a shaft driven by said motor, propellers operatively connected with said shaft, means imparting sustaining'and propulsion strokes rhythmically to said propellers and means for guiding the movement of the device.

27. In a combinatio n with a suitable frame and su port of a 'motor secured thereon, sha s driven by said motor, propellers j ournaled on the frame,means operated by said shaftsfor rotating, reciprocating and oscillating the propellers, means operated from the latform for varying the angle of 0 eration o the ropellers, a rudder operated rom the platform to guide the'direction of the device, aeroplanes comprising blades engaged to the frame and means adjusting the angle of inclination of the blades.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. DANIEL B. LITTLEFIELD Witnesses:

J. ANGELL, K. E. HANNAH.

evice of the class described the 

